Before launch, check that your content is accurate, your domain and hosting accounts are in your control, the site works on a phone, search engines can find it and a backup exists. After launch, check your forms, register with Google and diary your renewal dates. Print this page or copy it into your notes.
Content
Accurate and complete.
Accounts
Domain and hosting in your control.
Test
Phone, forms, speed.
Launch
Search, Google profile, tell customers.
1. Content
- Business name, address, phone number and WhatsApp number are correct everywhere.
- Opening hours and service areas are stated.
- Each page has a clear purpose and one main action.
- Photos are yours or you have permission to use them, and have short descriptions (alt text).
- Spelling and names have been read by a second person.
- Prices, if shown, are accurate and say what they include.
2. Domain, hosting and email
- The domain is registered in the business's name, with a shared business email for recovery. See what is a domain name.
- You know where the website is hosted and can log in or have a written record of who can. See who owns your website.
- Renewal dates for domain and hosting are in your diary.
- Business email addresses work, and you have sent and received a test message.
3. Works for visitors
- The site opens and reads well on a phone. See mobile-friendly websites.
- Every button, menu link and phone or WhatsApp link works.
- The contact form sends a test enquiry to the right person.
- Pages load quickly on mobile data. See loading speed.
- Text is readable and links can be used with a keyboard. See the W3C introduction to web accessibility (external site, opens in a new tab).
4. Search and visibility
- Each page has its own title and short description. See what is SEO.
- The site address uses https. See what is HTTPS.
- Any “do not index” setting used during building has been removed.
- A sitemap exists and is submitted. See what is an XML sitemap.
- Your Google Business Profile is claimed and matches the website. See our Google guide.
5. Security and records
- Passwords are strong and different for each account. See protecting your website.
- A backup exists and you know how to restore it.
- A privacy notice states how form information is used.
- A handover record lists every account, who controls it and when it renews.
6. After launch
- Test the contact form again and the phone links on a real phone.
- Tell customers: update WhatsApp, Facebook, email signatures and printed material with the address.
- Check Google a few weeks later by searching your business name and service in your town.
- Plan monthly checks. See the maintenance checklist.
Common mistakes at launch
- Launching with placeholder text or old phone numbers.
- Leaving the site hidden from search engines.
- Not testing the contact form.
- Forgetting to tell existing customers the address.
Key terms and where the definitions come from
Show key terms and sources
These explanations are ADA's own words, adapted from the independent sources named. Those organisations do not endorse or work with ADA, and the examples are illustrations, not real clients.
What is web accessibility?
Web accessibility means building websites so people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate and use them. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set out how.
Source: Based on W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, Introduction to Web Accessibility.
For a Namibian business: Clear text contrast, labelled form fields and pages that work with a keyboard help customers who are older, have low vision, or are using a phone in bright sun.
Related ADA service: Business website design
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS is the secure version of the web's HTTP protocol. It encrypts what passes between a visitor's browser and your site and lets the browser check that it is really your site.
Source: Based on web.dev, Why HTTPS matters.
Reference: web.dev: Why HTTPS matters (external site, opens in a new tab)
For a Namibian business: A Namibian business whose contact form sends names and phone numbers should use HTTPS so that information is not readable by others on the same public Wi-Fi.
Related ADA service: Website care plans
Common questions
Who is this checklist for?
Small business owners and anyone managing a launch, whether you build the site yourself or hire a developer.
Can I use it with a developer?
Yes. Ask the developer to confirm each item or say which are not included.
How long does the checklist take?
Most items take a few minutes each. Testing forms and phone links takes the longest.
What should I check first?
Your contact details, then the contact form and phone links. If those fail, nothing else matters.
Is it free to use or share?
Yes. You may use it and link to it. Please credit ADA Web Division if you reproduce parts of it.
Need help with this?
Optional. You do not need any ADA service to use what you have just read.
- Website design
Launch checks built into every project. - Website care plans
Ongoing checks after launch. - Request a written quote
Ask us to check an existing site.